Poly (?) Finish that just won't dry

Have a relative that has a problem. They have a bench seat, top is simple AC nicely edged, the box under the seat is cedar lined. They believe it has a Poly based finish. Exposed surfaces are nice and dry, but when you open the lid, the finish is still tacky, and I mean TACKY. Flies can get stuck to it, we’re talking duct tape sticky and it’s been like this for over year.

How the heck does one go about fixing this? They have left the lid up for weeks on end to no avail.

-- Quality: There is hardly anything in the world that some men cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price are this man’s lawful prey.

Would there be a problem with some decorative slots in the sides for air flow????say, using a plunge router, make a half dozen 1/4” wide ‘slots’ approximately equidistant from the top and bottom, space them out by about 3/4” and have them about 6” or 7” long? They would just need a light sanding, quick touch up with stain and poly, and “bob’s your uncle” – air flow = no more sticky after a while…

yes? no? maybe? I dunno?

I’m just learning, and new on here…. of course you could always cut out little heart shapes, or ducks or geese or bows…... I like things that look a little more mission or shaker style myself.